Big Rabbit. Big Cuddly Bunny, Purl Bee website's free pattern.
I am having THE MOST productive season! I even have a free pattern at the end of this post.
The bunny stuffed animal above isn't exactly an FO this week. I finished knitting it back in February, after seeing the pattern on the Purl Bee website. With the ends hanging out and eyes, nose, mouth missing, it went to hibernate. I initially wanted to give it to my dear sister, but since I got pregnant, this project became something for the nursery.
Finally today, I sewed on the eyes (I have millions of Vince overstock buttons so I got the small size ones and flipped them so you won't see the Vince logo), nose, and mouth, and woven in the ends. Now it sits on the top of the yarn stash shelf (soon to be baby's stuff shelf, hopefully). Because of the buttons, I probably won't give it to the baby to play with until much later, but I feel happy and accomplished a little bit now that I did some more "tiny knitting" for the baby.
Finished Marty's Vest after 2 years..
A real FO this week is Marty's vest, out of Cascade 220 worsted weight yarn in Black. I must've gotten this yarn about 3 or 4 years ago, right around the time when we got married. I got the yarn from a LYS here in the Orange County called The Sheared Sheep. It's a really cute store, but for some reason I don't go back often.
I also improvised this pattern, it's easy enough because it's all Stockinette st (=my favorite). I don't really find the good 'ole Stockinette that boring. I find it comforting and beautiful. Unfortunately, a black Stockinette st vest for Mens' size M doesn't really make any interesting blog post. Other than the fact that close-up shots were almost impossible to take due to lighting.
Loose, slouchy hat in Di.Ve Autunno in "Brown"
So now, something a little more exciting.
The day I finished this long-hibernating project for Marty, I must have gotten the Startitis. I already had several sock projects and Marty's Hugo on the needle, but wanted to do something quick.
So I cast on for a hat, with this bulky weight yarn I had in my stash since 2010. I know the date, because I got it from Purlescence Yarns in Sunnyvale, on Black Friday, during their famous Pajama-Jammies Sale. That was the only time I was able to make it back home during Thanksgiving.
I bought 2 balls in brown and 2 balls in gray. The gray one became a Gap-tastic Cowl a couple of years ago, and that's when I realized that this yarn is not truly bulky weight. It works more like a worsted weight yarn, and I used US 8 size needles for the project which was perfect. The moss stitch pattern came out squooshy and with the just the right amount of tension.
Free Pattern for a Quick Hat
Yarn: Di.Ve Autunno in Brown. (Note: This yarn is noted as "bulky" weight yarn, the single-“ply” and the soft merino drape make it much more lightweight. US 8/5.0mm was just perfect for the job, and I treated it just like any other worsted weight yarn)
Needles: US 8/5.0mm throughout the whole project for a very slouchy, loose hat.
Gauge: 16 sts and 20 rows in 4" square (Moss Stitch)
Moss Stitch (even # of sts):
Round 1 *K1, p1; rep to the end of the round.
Round 2 *P1, k1; rep to the end of the round.
CO 74sts, in Tubular Long-Tail CO. Join in the round. Work 1x1 ribbing for 7 rounds.
Then continue working for about 2" in moss stitch in the round.
Eyelet Round to the Left: *yo, k2tog; repeat to the end. Work moss stitch 2 rounds.
Eyelet to the Right: *Ssk, yo; repeat to the end; work moss stitch 2 rounds.
Eyelet to the Left 1 round.
Continue working moss stitch until the hat measures 8" from the CO edge.
Decrease:
*k2tog, work in patt 14 sts, ssk, pm, k2tog, work in patt 15 sts, ssk, pm; rep once more.
Work 1 round evenly.
Continue decreasing by working a decrease round (1 st before and after the markers), then working 1 round evenly, 3 more times.
Cut a yarn tail about 15" long, and thread the end through the tapestry needle. Run it through all the stitch in the round, then tighten and weave in the ends.
Attach a pompom (optional, but important!)